In many ways, this was a very classic high fantasy adventure with a reluctant hero, dragons, a prince, and Princess, a wizard and kings. But I enjoyed the quirky, whimsical voice. While I originally thought this would be more of a silly, light fantasy, it definitely evolved into something more epic, even if a little self-aware. Overall I enjoyed this audiobook, and would recommend for any fantasy reader looking for a fun read with a classic feel and maybe a bit of How to Train Your Dragon energy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
This one gets a smile from me. Sometimes you just need some good old-fashioned fantasy fun.
Things I liked: – From a historical perspective, I really thought this story hit the injustice and brutality of the period – The main characters are likable – The mystery kept me guessing
Things I didn’t like: – Slow pace – I didn’t feel like there was enough chemistry between the main characters – I found the ending unsatisfying in more than one way – The audiobook narration was not my favorite
Recommended for those looking for a historical court room drama that takes its time and has some open ends.
⭐⭐⭐½
I’m definitely in the mood for some killer hist fic, but this just didn’t quite do it for me.
Apparently, I’m very hot or cold on Emily Henry books, so I definitely approached this one with trepidation. My current EH Tally looks like:
Absolutely Loved: Book Lovers, Beach Read
Absolutely Not for me: People We Meet On Vacation, Happy Place
However, I definitely enjoyed this heartwarming romance, and I flew through it. The characters were likable, their chemistry and tension felt real, and I loved the premise. The ending felt a little rushed for me, so it wasn’t quite as satisfying as I was hoping, but I would still put it in the “highly recommend” category (behind Book Lovers and Beach Read.) Also, the narration was fabulous, so definitely try the audiobook!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 stars from me. Gotta love a book that lives up to the hype.
A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (Ladies Most Scandalous, #1): 4.5⭐
What I liked: – Fun Characters – Quick Pace – Downton Abbey Vibes – Cozy Mystery with Romance – Could be a stand-alone – Solid audiobook narration
What I didn’t like: – I felt like quite a few elements weren’t as fleshed out as I’d like. Both the romance and the ending developed very quickly.
Overall, a quick, fun read with romance and mystery that gives Downton Abbey vibes. Will be reading the sequel!
An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire (Ladies Most Scandalous, #2): 4⭐
While it can be read as a stand-alone, this book is similar to book one with light second-chance enemies to lovers dynamic, Bridgerton vibes, and a mystery to solve. I found though that I didn’t quite like the main characters as much as I did in book one, and there was quite a lot of mentions of the uneven power dynamic between men and women in the time period. While I enjoyed the read, I don’t know if I would read another book in this series.
Overall series rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Needed just a bit more mischief, mayhem, deception, & desire I think.
A sweet coming of age centering on the friendship between two sixth grade boys (one sporty, one STEM-y.)
What I liked: – Likable Characters – Tough topics (alcoholism & divorce) tactfully addressed – Sweet friendship – No romance (I usually love romance books, but I think this story worked better for its audience without it) – Important themes of accepting who you are – Dual POVs from very different kids – Tightly paced
What I didn’t like: – Marco’s basketball growth over a week seemed a little fantastical to me – It felt like the narrative was a little skewed to Isaac supporting Marco, and I would’ve like to see a little more of Marco supporting Isaac through his tough stuff.
Recommended for anyone looking for a sporty and sweet Middle Grade with solid themes and tough topics.
⭐⭐⭐½
Had a big MG-phase in my 2024 reading year. I don’t really know how it happened, but I definitely didn’t hate it.
What I liked: – Justin – The side-characters – The curse premise
What I didn’t like: – Emma
While I’ve read all of Jimenez’s books, I’m more of a “The Friend Zone” trilogy fan then “Part of Your World.” In general, I’ve like the banter and the characters, but I feel like in each of the Part of Your World books, we’re focusing on the trauma of the FMC, and I feel like the MMC’s arc gets a little shorted as he pines for her and waits for her to heal. In general, they’ve just been a little too heavy for me. But if you’re looking for a romance with deeper themes on trauma, familial relationships, and recovery, this is the book for you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Do you ever wish you liked a book more than you did? I’ve got those feels.
Well, since this series has pretty much been the highlight of my year, I’ve gathered all the reviews of books so far. Please know, I almost never get into series, especially one this long, AND I bought an audible subscription literally just for these audiobooks. So this is a pretty big deal for me. I’ve also gotten my dad, husband, and BFF into this series, and now my husband and I are (im)patiently waiting for book 7 to come out. (Ebook in November and Audiobook in January.) Seriously, it speaks volumes that I even know that. However, let’s just state up front that if you have pearls to clutch, this series isn’t for you. But enough chitty chatty. Without further ado, the actual reviews:
Dungeon Crawler Carl (#1): 5⭐
Okay Carl & Donut. You got me. This was incredibly entertaining.
What did I like: Everything.
Recommended for anyone looking for a hilarious, action-packed time. This was my first LitRPG, and though I’m not a huge gamer anymore, I did play a few MMOs in my time, and I do have a general knowledge of dungeons, stats, buffs, etc. If you don’t I’m not exactly sure what your experience will be, but I didn’t think it was critical to appreciating the plot, characters, and banter.
And the fact that the audiobook is narrated by Jeff Hays (a Patrick-Warburton-sound-alike, read: Krunk) – perfection. I mean I basically feel like this is Krunk went on the Hunger Games with his diva pet cat. I got this audiobook from the library, but they didn’t have the sequels, so I literally got an audible subscription for the rest of the series.
This was an instant cure for my reading slump this year, and I already recommended to my Dad, my husband, and my coworker. So yeah. Definitely give this one a look and you can thank me later.
(Note: *Not* recommended if you have sensitivities to swearing, gore, or dark humor.)
Carl’s Doomsday Scenario (#2): 5⭐
Fantastic sequel that lives up to the first book in every way. I could not buy book 3 fast enough.
The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook (#3): 4.5⭐
This one felt just a little on the long side, with one too many technical battles. But I still really enjoyed the character growth, and some plot developments that really surprised me. Totally enjoyed and absolutely in for book 4!
The Gate of the Feral Gods (#4): 4.5⭐
Another fantastic entry in the Dungeon Crawler series. I did feel like this one (similar to book 3) was a little longer than necessary with lots of intricate detail on smaller skirmishes and quests. But as always, I really enjoyed the plot and character development in this book, and I’m excited to read book 5. I honestly can’t remember the last time a series held my attention through book 5, and I’m super impressed with all the threads of this plot line. I’ve recommended this series to like 4 of my friends, and I’m super curious to see if the momentum can hold through 3+ more books!
The Butcher’s Masquerade (#5): 3.5⭐
This one dragged a bit for me. While it still employed a lot of the shenanigans that made the first four books great, here they started to feel repetitive, and I felt like this one lacked the twists and the character growth that really kept me turning pages earlier in the series. And, at 726 pages… it feels incredibly long. There was a lot of “this is the plan” and “but this is how the plan went,” and I didn’t feel as invested in the sideplots.
Which is all to say, I think I’ll be taking a break from Dungeon Crawler for a little while. Maybe I’ll pick up book 6 down the line, but for now, I think I need something different.
(note: the break only turned out to be about 3 audiobooks long before I couldn’t resist diving back in)
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (#6): 5⭐
Dayuummm. Not going to lie, in book 6, I was worried I was getting tired of this series, but this one totally amped up the stakes. The new battle play was interesting, and the tension and pacing were tight through the end. My husband and I are both counting down the days until book 7!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Oh my. Are those… 5 glowing stars?!!? Why yes they are. Seriously cannot say enough good things.
Also, Google search, if this picture shows up as my author photo, we’re going to have words.
I saw this floating on bookstagram and was looking for something light, fun, and different to get me out of epic bookslump of 2024. And even though this isn’t my typical read (I think this is my first alpha/omega book), it fit the bill in many ways.
What I liked: Dual-POV romance Fake Dating Likable Characters Fast read Rom-Com feel
What I didn’t like: Dirty talk always feels awkward to me The spice:plot ratio was more skewed to spice than I prefer Fated mates isn’t my favorite trope The 3rd act break-up felt a little forced
But like I said, this was a light, fun read, and I would recommend for anyone looking for a spicy shifter rom-com.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yep, we went there. Strangely, not as awkward as I was expecting, but not really my cup of tea either.
I honestly didn’t think Middle Grade would be the solution to awful reading slump this year, but here we are with the second awesome MG read in a row!
The characters’ struggles, emotions, and heart really popped off the page, and I was so invested Lina’s journey as she learns to find her voice and to navigate a new country and her family dynamics. The voice really pops off the page, and the importance of the themes and topics really hits home. The audiobook narration was also fabulous, and I definitely recommend for readers of all ages. I enjoyed it so much, I immediately snagged Front Desk by Kelly Yang too and can’t wait to dive in!
Extra note: Unfortunately, Front Desk didn’t grab me, and I didn’t continue after the first chapter.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Middle-grade reading-slump-busters for the win this year.
So I really enjoyed A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, but this one totally solidified me as a T. Kingfisher fan.
What I liked: -The characters’ voices are super strong and they pop right off the page -Unique, awesome worldbuilding -Quirky lovable characters -Slowburn romance -Writing that grabbed me straight from the first page -Amazing narration
What I didn’t like: -At about the 80% mark, a character made a choice that I thought wasn’t in line with their character for the sake of the plot – definitely a super frustrating moment. -The pacing in the last 25% felt like it dragged to me.
Overall though, I highly recommend this to anyone looking for quirky fantasy with a side of romance, and I’ll definitely be reading more from Kingfisher!
⭐⭐⭐⭐¾
I’m still thinking about this one a couple months later. The voice and characters completely sucked me in!
Hayley Reese Chow 